DISCOUNTS

People in the following groups do not count towards the number of adults resident in a home:

• full-time students, student nurses, apprentices and youth training trainees (YTS) and foreign language students;
• patients resident in hospital on a long-term basis;
• patients in residential care homes, nursing homes (such as hospices), mental nursing homes and hostels;
• people providing a high level of care;
• people kept in hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983;
• people who are severely mentally impaired;
• people staying in certain hostels or night shelters;
• 18 or 19 years olds who are at school or who have just left school;
• persons in respect of whom child benefit is payable;
• careworkers working for low pay (usually for charities, such as Community Service Volunteers);
• people caring for someone with a disability who is not a spouse, partner, or child under 18;
• members of visiting forces and certain international institutions and defence organisations;
• members of religious communities (e.g. monks or nuns);
• people in prison (except those in prison for non-payment of council tax or a fine).

If you think you may be entitled to a discount, please contact the Local Taxation Service. If your bill indicates that a discount has been given, you must tell us of any change in circumstances which may affect your entitlement within 21 days of the change. If you fail to do so, you may be liable to pay a penalty of 50.